National championship marathon on natural ice

For the first time in 13 years, the race will take place on Thursday on natural ice.

THE NETHERLANDS – For the first time in 13 years, a Dutch championship ice-skating marathon is to be held on natural ice.

The race will take place on Thursday in the Oostvaardersplassen wetland in the province of Flevoland, an area of land reclaimed in the 1960s. The women competitors will race 60 kilometres and the men will race 100 kilometres on ice.

The ice on the route is now 11.5 centimetres thick. The minimum requirement of 12 centimetres for the race will be easily met, according to present weather forecasts.

Mild winters in recent years have offered limited possibilities for this hugely popular Dutch sport. However, the recent freezing conditions have seen an increasing amount of Dutch people take to the ice over the weekend.